Portable shower bath

ABSTRACT

A SELF-CONTAINED PORTABLE SHOWER BATH IN WHICH ALL OF THE COMPONENT PARTS ARE PACKED IN A SUITCASE SIZED, HAND PORTABLE, COMPACT UNIT, IN WHICH THERE IS A MAIN BODY PORTION COMPRISING A FLUID RESERVOIR AND A BASIN PLATFORM, SHOWER CURTAIN ASSEMBLY, A SHOWERHEAD AND PLUMBING THEREFOR, ALL OF WHICH ARE DEMOUNTABLE FOR STOWING IN THE BASIN OR BETWEEN THE BASIN AND THE INSIDE OF A COVER DESIGNED TO FIT OVER AND ENCLOSE THE BODY PORTION, IN WHICH THERE IS A MOTOR DRIVEN PUMP, FLUID LINES AND VALVES ADAPTED TO BNE SELECTIVELY ARRANGED TO PUMP FLUID FROM THE RESERVOIR TO THE SHOWERHEAD, TO DRAIN THE BASIN, TO RECIRCULATE WATER FROM THE BASIN TO THE SHOWERHEAD, AND TO PROVIDE A FLUID SUPPLY TO THE SHOWERHEAD FROM AN OUTSIDE WATER LINE.

Sept. 21, 1971 R D VEECH 3,09,18

PORTABLE snowsn BATH Filed March 31, 1970 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ROBERT D. VEECH ab-(1M4 ATTORNEY Se t. 21, 1971 R 1 H 3,606,618

PORTABLE SHOWER BATH Filed March 31, 1970 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ROBERT D. VEECH ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,606,618 PORTABLE SHOWERBATH Robert D. Veech, 11 Yates Ave., Commack, N.Y. 11725 Filed Mar. 31,1970, Ser. No. 24,269 Int. Cl. A47k 3/22; F24h 1/06 US. Cl. 4-147 25Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A self-contained portable shower bathin which all of the component parts are packed in a suitcase sized, handportable, compact unit, in which there is a main body portion comprisinga fluid reservoir and a basin platform, shower curtain assembly, ashowerhead and plumbing therefor, all of which are demountable forstowing in the basin or between the basin and the inside of a coverdesigned to fit over and enclose the body portion, in which there is amotor driven pump, fluid lines and valves adapted to be selectivelyarranged to pump fluid from the reservoir to the showerhead, to drainthe basin, to recirculate water from the basin to the showerhead, and toprovide a fluid supply to the showerhead from an outside water line.

This invention relates to a compact, self-contained portable shower bathwhich may be used principally by persons who are on camping trips orcaravan and desire to have a compact demountable shower bath as a partof their equipment. The portable shower bath, however, can be used inmany other situations where such a bath may be needed temporarily andpermanent plumbing is not yet available, or in fact, in any situationwhere its usefulness could be appreciated.

The portable shower bath of the invention has been designed toaccomplish a variety of functions. First of all, it has itsself-contained fluid or water supply; secondly, it may be set upanywhere without plumbing connections; third, it has a shower curtainassembly with a wide upper ring so that a person may be accommodatedcomfortably within the curtain, yet the ring collapses to fit easilywithin the narrower basin of the shower; fourth, the collapsed showercurtain assembly as well as the showerhead and hose connection to theshowerhead are all self-contained within the enclosed device underneatha cover in a unit small enough and light enough to be hand carried byany of the usual personnel who would be on a camping trip; fifth, thecover itself has provision to be used as a table when the shower is inuse; sixth, there is a submersible bilge pump type motor driven pump toforce water from the fluid reservoir up to the showerhead; seventh,there is also provision by way of valve and fluid line arrangements torecirculate the shower water in the basin back up to the showerhead ifdesired; eighth, there is further provision by valve arrangement, to useonly the fresh fluid from the reservoir for the shower and retain theused water in the basin; ninth, there is also provision to drain thebasin by means of the pump; and tenth, there is also a further selectivearrangement of the valves of the device to provide for direct connectionof the showerhead to an outside source of fluid, by-passing thereservoir and the pump.

The principal advantages of the invention are the provision of acompact, portable, highly versatile shower bath, easy to operate, andproviding a comfortable luxurytype convenience under primitivecircumstances.

Another advantage of the shower bath of the invention is that it may bequickly and conveniently demoimted and packed into a compact unit forstowage.

Further advantages of the invention will become appar- Patented Sept.21, 1971 cut from the description hereinbelow. The invention isillustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. :1 is a perspective view;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the main body portion with thesuperstructure of the shower curtain assembly and the showerheadremoved;

FIG. 3 is a detail of a shower curtain assembly and a portion of themain body portion in exploded relation with parts cut away and partly insection;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the main body portion and the cover portionin opened relationship with the cover removed;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the main body portion;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged top plan detail of the main body portion withparts cut away;

FIG. 7 is a reduced perspective view of the invention in package form;

FIG. 8 is a perspective of a battery pack accessory for the invention;and

FIG. 9 is a perspective of a current adapter accessory for theinvention.

Similar numerals refere to similar parts throughout the several views.

In FIG. 1, the compact portable shower bath 10 is shown on its main bodyportion 12 with cover 14 removed and curtain assembly 16 in place readyfor use. Reference to FIG. 5 will show details of construction of themain body portion 12. There is a lower shell 18 and an upper shell 20,each having peripheral flanges 22 between which is positioned a doublefaced adhesive tape 24 to seal the seam or joint between the shells 18and 20. The seal is made fluid tight and completed by a metal channelstrip 26. The preferred material for the body portion 12 and its shells18 and is a high impact lightweight plastic. However, any suitablematerial may be use The upper shell 20 is provided with a basin 28having a basin wall 30. The floor of the basin 28 is a platform for theperson using the shower bath. A recessed portion 32 is provided forvarious connections and controls necessary to the device. The bottom 34of the basin is spaced by means of a thickness of Styrofoam or otherstrengthening material from the lower skin 38 of the lower shell 18.

Reference to FIG. 3 will show details of the rod assemblies 42. In thepreferred form of the invention illustrated, there are three rodassemblies 42. Each rod assembly is demountable with its sections havingfemale portions 44 and male portions 46 for assembly. There is a lowersection 48 and one or more intermediate sections 50 and a shower ringsupport 52. The shower ring supports are positioned to hold a hollowshower curtain ring 54 which is a non-continuous ring having a break orjoint at reference numeral 56 normally held in closed relationship bymeans of a joint or plug connecting means 58. In the preferred form, theconnecting means 58 is a wooden plug which is removably swedge fitted inthe hollow portions of ring 58 at joint 56. For each rod assembly 42,there are rod receiving means in the form of a rod sleeve receiver 60seated in a sleeve support recess 62 placed or molded in lower skin 38.The sleeve 60 is also provided with a cap, preferably a plastic cap 64and glued by means of an adhesive 66 in its proper position. There isalso a rubber washer or grommet 68 in the upper skin 40 of the uppershell in the main body portion which has a groove 70 to fit the skin 40and an opening 72 for the sleeve 60. The grommet is of a type to providea fluid tight seal.

The shower curtain assembly 16 is provided with a shower curtain 74depending from curtain rings 76 from the shower curtain ring 58.Approximately one pound of lead weights 78 are sewn or otherwise placedat the lower edge of the shower curtain 74 to counteract wind or otherconditions which might disarrange the curtain.

The basin 28 has a drain recess 80 which can best be seen in FIGS. 2 and6 of the drawings. At reference numeral 82, there is an inlet to a fluidcommunication means such as drain line 84. Drain line 84 is within thereservoir 86 formed by the shell portions 18 and 20 which comprise thecomplete shell of the main body portion 12. It is to be noted that thebasin 28 and its wall 30 are centrally located in a space area betweenupper skin and lower skin 38 of the main body portion 12, and that allof the other area between these two skins 38 and 40 (aside from themotor 88, the pump 90, the switch cup 92 and the other componentsillustrated between the skins) is reservoir area 86. Thus, the motor 88and pump 90 must be of a type that will operate efliciently submerged ina fluid such as water. The usual type of motor driven bilge pump whichis designed to operate in submerged or submersible condition has beenfound to be highly satisfactory. The motor 88 for such purpose is asealed unit motor usually operated by electricity.

A switch cup 92 is provided for mounting on the recess control panel 32by means of a waterproof grommet 94 which holds a plate 96. Controlmeans such as an on-off switch button, preferably a foot operated type,is shown at reference numeral 98. The switch mechanism would be locatedin the switch cup 92 and would be of any type known to the art whichwould turn the motor 88 on and off by means of the button 98.

At reference numeral 100, an electric power cord is shown which isconnected to an electric plug 102 of a type which is compatible with anelectric cigarette lighter dashboard receptacle well known to the art.In other words, the plug 102 is adapted to be pressed into the usualcigarette lighter receptacle commonly installed on most trucks,automobiles or other vehicles such as boats so that the user of theshower bath can plug it into the vehicle receptacle and obtain a sourceof electric power from the vehicle to operate the motor 88. Reference toFIG. 5 will show that the motor 88, pump 90 and switch cup 92 may beprovided as an assembly which is attached and held in place by the lowerskin 38 and panel 32 of the shower bath main body portion 12 with thegrommet 94 providing a good seal.

It is now understood that a fluid such as water is kept in reservoir 86for purposes of providing shower water. The water is forced or pumped upby the pump 90 so that a shower bath may be taken by a person standingon the basin platform 28, and eventually the water from reservoir 86will fill basin 28.

The mechanism provided to operate the water or fluid portion of thedevice comprises the motor and pump 88 and 90 respectively, and a systemof fluid conduits and valves as follows: As shown in FIG. 6, a valve 104having an inlet 106 connected to the drain line 84 and another inlet 108communicating with reservoir 86 is provided to permit selection of thefluid to be pumped up to the shower head or to be drained from thedevice as will be more fully explained. Inlet valve 104 has an output oroutlet into the input of pump 90 at the point designated by referencenumeral 110. Valve 104 has a valve gate made in accordance with theusual valve art practice which is controlled by a rod 112 and having amanual operating portion 114. Valve 104 is constructed so that either ofthe inputs 106 or 108 can be selected from which to draw fluid into theintake portion of pump 90. A fluid communication line or pipe 116connects the output of pump 90 to an on-off valve 118 controlled by rod120 and manual operating portion 122. Valve 118 is connected by a fluidline 124 to a T connection 126 which in turn splits the fluidcommunicating line by means of a line 128 and a line 132 to threadedoutlets and 134 respectively. Element 136 is an on-oif valve controlledby manual operating portion 138 which may be screwed onto threadedoutlet 134.

While valve 136, which is an on-off valve, is shown as a separateelement to be screwed on, it may be incorporated into the line 132 ifdesired. A fluid line 140 which is connected to port 134 through valve136 may be used either as an external drain for the body portion or as asource of fresh fluid supply to be directed directly to the shower headas will be more fully explained later. Thus it can be seen that port 134may be used either as an outlet port or an intake port.

Fluid line 142 is connected by a coupling 144 to outlet 130 and also toshower head 146 and acts as the fluid communication line to the showerhead. Lines 140 and 1 42 are preferably of flexible material such asrubber or plastic garden type hose. Shower head 146 slides onto abracket 148 which may be removably attached to shower curtain ring 54thus rendering the shower head 146 readily adjustable and removable whennecessary.

I have also provided a filler vent 150 with a filler cap 152 to fill thereservoir 86. It is to be noted that all connections can be removed fromthe threaded outlets 130 and 134 and replaced with caps 154 as shown inFIG. 4 so that the reservoir can be substantially closed duringtransportation of the device if it is desired to carry it around filledwith water or other fluid.

Inside of the cover portion 14, I may provide a recess 156 which can bemolded into the material of the cover and adapted to hold the knockeddown support rods 48 and 50 as shown at reference numeral 158. These maybe held in place by a strap 160 bearing against a sponge 162. Theseparable sponge 162 may be used for cleaning purposes and also as ananti-rattling device in the package as shown in FIG. 4. These is acarrying handle 164 as well as feet or footings 166 upon which to restthe closed device when it is in its suitcase form. Closure of the coverover the device may be made by grommet type fasteners 168 and 170. Anair vent 172 communicating with the reservoir 86 is shown in FIG. 4. Thepurpose of this air vent is to prevent collapse of the body portion whenthe fluid in the body portion is being pumped up to the shower head 146.It is to be noted that the air vent 172 is positioned on an upper partof the body portion 12. When the body portion is lifted by handle 164 toa vertical position and rested on feet 166, the air vent 172 will stillbe at an upper portion of the body portion and is purposely positionedthus to avoid excess spillage of fluid when the device is transportedwith fluid in the reservoir 86.

In FIG. 8 a battery pack 174 is shown with the reference numeral arrowpointing at a cigarette lighter type receptable adapted to accomodatethe plug such as plug 102. Thus, the device can be easily run from itsseparate battery pack. While any reasonable voltage may be used to runthe device, I prefer to use a 12 volt system which is compatible withmost common vehicles in use which would be used on a camping trip or thelike.

In FIG. 9 an adapter 176 is shown which also has a cigarette lightertype receptable for a plug such as plug 102. Thus, if the shower has a12 volt system, it can be used with the adapter 176 on a 110 volt powerline or with any other desired voltage which the adapter is made for.

I have also provided leg recesses 178 in the cover 14 so that rodssimilar to the support rods 42 can be used as legs and the cover 14 canbe used as a table for the convenience of the bather.

The device is operated as follows: Let us assume that the device is setup for portable use as shown in FIG. 7. An operator would place it onthe fioor or on the ground and remove the cover which would place thedevice in position as shown in FIG. 4. Then the various accessoriesstored in the cover and in the basin of the main body portion can beremoved and installed. The rod assemblies 42 are placed in the receivingsleeves 60, the shower curtain holder 54 is uncoiled from its openposition and connected or closed at joint 56 by the connecting swedge58, and then placed over the brackets 52. The curtain 74 is placed onthe curtain holder 54 by means of curtain rings 76. Shower head 146, itsfluid line 142 and bracket 148 are suspended from the shower curtainholder and line 142 is connected to outlet 130. Line 140 may then beconnected to on-off valve 136 and to port 134. Plug 102 may then beplaced into an appropriate cigarette lighter receptacle for a source ofcurrent. If there is no fluid in the reservoir 86, a quantity of watermay be poured through vent 150 after removing filler cap 152. Theoperator who might then desire to have a shower bath with fresh water inreservoir 86 would adjust valve 104 by means of the manual operatedportion 114 to close intake 106 and open intake 108. The operator wouldalso close on-off valve 36 and open on-off valve 118. Then the operatorwould step on foot switch 98 which would start the motor and pump drive.With the device and its valves in the position described, the pump willpump fluid out of the reservoir 86 through valve intake 108, through thepump to line 116, through valve 118 to line 124, through line 128,thence up through line 142 to the shower head causing the fluid to flowfrom the shower head over the bather and onto the basin platform 28. Asuflicient quantity of water, approximately gallons, is contained in thereservoir 86 and the pump is operated to deliver the 5 gallons of waterin approximately four minutes for a continuous shower.

After the water is exhausted from the reservoir 86, the operator turnsthe motor off by stepping on switch 96. The waste water in platformbasin 28 may then be drained by turning manual portion 114 to closeintake 108 and open intake 106 of valve 104. On-otf valve 136 is openedto permit flow of water, and the motor is again started by switch 98.The pump will now drain the basin 28 through drain inlet 82 and drainline 84 pushing the water through line 116 and up line 132 into line140. Line 140 may be directed toward any waste area such as a sewer orany other area where the waste water may be flowed. Since the exit fromline 140 will be at a much lower level than shower head 146, the waterwill take the path through line 140 rather than through line 142. If itis desired to recirculate the waste water up through the shower head tocontinue the shower, then all that need be done is to close valve 136 toprevent the water from leaving through line 140. It will then be forcedup through line 142 to the shower head 146 and the water will continueto recirculate so long as the motor is running. If desired, a filter(not shown) may be placed at the drain outlet 82 to purify the water ifnecessary. Drain line 84 can be eliminated thereby permitting basin 28to communicate directly with the reservoir area 86 permitting the wastewater to flow into area 86 for pumping up to the shower head. In suchcase, a plug (not shown) may be provided to close inlet 82 during thetime when the device is used to pump fresh water from the reservoir upto the shower head.

When it is desired to flow fresh water directly through line 140 to thedevice to take advantage of a fresh water outlet which may be availableor handy, on-olf valve 118 is closed by means of manual operatingportion 122. Valve 136 is placed in open or on position. The fresh watersupply is connected to line 140 and turned on. Water will flow throughline 140 through valve 136 down through line 132, and then throughconnection 126 through line 128 and up through fluid line 142 to theshower head 146, and will continue to flow as long as the outside sourceis kept on. This type of flow does not need the use of the motor andpump 88 and 90 respectively.

When it is desired to repack the device into its compact condition, itis dismantled by removing the shower curtain assembly and the showerhead 146, the ring '54 is disconnected and partially coiled to reduceits diameter to fit within the basin 28, the lines 140 and 142 arecoiled and placed within the basin 28, the rods 42 are dismantled andplaced within the recess 156, and the other small components are placedin the basin together with the plug 102 and the electric line 100. Thecover 14 is replaced and held in place by fasteners 168 and 170 and thedevice is ready to be carried about.

The entire unit may be stored in a compact case 25 inches square, andthe shower bath can be used indoors or outdoors regardless of whetherthere is a handy water supply since it may use its self-contained waterreservoir or an outside supply of water.

While I have described my invention in its preferred form, there areother forms which it may take without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention, and I, therefore, desire to be protected for allforms coming within the claims hereinbelow.

Wherefore, I claim:

1. A self-contained portable shower bath unit comprising: a main bodyportion forming a structure including hollow fluid reservoir means forbathing fluid and basin platform means, a shower head, a pump includingfluid intake means and fluid output means, fluid communication meansbetween said basin platform and said pump intake means, fluidcommunication means from said reservoir to said pu mp intake means, andfluid communication meaons between said pump output means and saidshower head.

2. The portable shower bath as claimed in claim 1, in which at least aportion of the pump and at least a portion of at least one of said fluidcommunication means are located within the fluid reservoir.

3. A self contained portable shower bath unit as claimed in claim 1, inwhich component parts are demountable for storage in a portablecontainer comprising the main body portion.

4. The portable shower bath as defined in claim 1 which includes atleast on valve means in at least one of the fluid communication means.

5. The portable shower bath as claimed in claim 1 which furthercomprises fluid port means at an exterior portion of the main bodyportion together with fluid communication means between said fluid portmeans, and said pump output means, and said fluid communication means tosaid shower head.

6. The portable shower bath as claimed in claim 5, in which at least aportion of the pump and at least a portion of at least one of said fluidcommunication means are located within the fluid reservoir.

7. The portable shower bath as claimed in claim 5 which includes powermeans to drive the pump means and control means for the power means.

8. The portable shower bathas claimed in claim 6, in which there is anelectric motor in combination with the pump in the form of a submersiblepump and motor unit positioned within the reservoir means.

9. The portable shower bath as claimed in claim 7 which includes atleast one valve means in at least one of the fluid communication means.

10. The portable shower bath as defined in claim 9, in which the powermeans includes an electric motor and the control means includes a footoperated switch.

11. The portable shower bath as defined in claim 10, in which theelectric motor and switch means are connected by conductors to a plugdesigned to fit a vehicle electric cigarette lighter receptacle outlet.

12. The portable shower bath as defined in claim 11, in combination witha battery pack means provided with a vehicle type electric cigarettelighter receptacle outlet.

13. The portable shower bath as defined in claim 12, in which theelectric motor and pump are operated by means of a 12 volt electricalsystem.

14. The portable shower bath as defined in claim 13 in combination withadapter means to operate the 12 volt system on a power source of anothervoltage.

15. The portable shower bath as claimed in claim 1, including ademountable shower curtain assembly having at least one support roddetachably positioned within rod receiving means in said body portion.

16. The portable shower bath as claimed in claim 15, further comprisingat least one removable shower curtain ring, said shower curtain ringbeing non-continuous and including connector means to selectively closeand open said ring to permit said ring to be at least partially coiledto a smaller diameter when open than when normally closed.

.17. The portable shower bath as defined in claim 16, which includesdetachable cover means to complete a closed casing for the device, andin which said rod supports are made in sections to provide lengthsshorter than an inside transverse measurement of said cover means.

18. The portable shower bath as claimed in claim 17, in which said covermeans are provided with leg sockets to accommodate table legs.

19. The portable shower bath as claimed in claim 17 which includes ashower curtain.

20. The portable shower bath as claimed in claim 17, in which the showercurtain has a weighted portion.

21. The portable shower bath as claimed in claim 19, in which the showerhead, the fluid communication means to the shower head, the showercurtain assembly, and the shower curtain are detached from the main bodyportion and stored in storage space formed between the cover and thebasin platform when the cover is attached.

22. The portable shower bath as claimed in claim 21 comprising carryinghandle means.

23. The portable shower bath as claimed in claim 22, in which the coverhas an integral recess for the support rods.

"24. The portable shower bath as claimed in claim 23, in which there isa strap and sponge combination positioned to hold the support rods inthe integral recess.

25. A portable shower bath as claimed in claim 1 comprising a hollowmain body portion forming a fluid reservoir and including a basinplatform exterior of the hollow portion, a shower head, a pump includingfluid intake means and fluid output means, fluid communication meansbetween said basin platform and said pump intake means, fluidcommunication means from said reservoir to said pump intake means, atleast one valve between said basin, reservoir and pump intake means;fluid communication means between said pump output means and said showerhead, fluid port means at an exterior portion of the main body portioncomprising valve means, fluid communication means comprising valve meansbetween said fluid port means and said pump output means, fluidcommunication means between said port means and said shower head,electric motor means in combination with said pump to form a submersiblepump and motor unit positioned within the reservoir means, a demountableshower curtain assembly having at least one support rod detachablypositioned within a rod receiving means in said body portion, at leastone removable shower curtain ring, said shower curtain ring beingnon-continuous and including connector means to selectively close andopen said ring to permit said ring to be at least partially coiled to asmaller diameter when open than when normally closed, and cover means tocomplete a closed casing for the device, and in which said rod supportsare made in sections to provide lengths shorter than an insidetransverse measurement of said cover means; in which the shower head,the fluid communication means to the shower head, the shower curtainassembly, and the shower curtain are detachable from the main bodyportion and storable in storage space formed between the cover and thebasin platform when the cover is attached. I

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 423,801 3/1890 Nolden 41551,663,735 3/1928 Talbot et a1. 4-151 1,844,038 2/1932 Hooker 4 -1512,148,926 2/1939 Bullington 4156 2,852,784 9/1958 Win'kler 4-151X3,293,664 12/1966 Coons 4145X 3,332,091 7/1967 Greer 4155 3,381,3165/1968 Anderson 4154 3,431,565 3/1969 Nelson 4-154 3,453,665 7/1969Cokic et a1 4-166 HENRY K. ARTIS, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 4-146,153, 154

